Cardinals legend Lou Brock passed away today at age 81. According to Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the Hall-of-Famer had been dealing with “a number of medical conditions in recent years.”
Over 19 seasons in the majors, Brock displayed nothing less than mastery of the basepaths, recording 938 stolen bases (from 1245 total chances). Brock is the National League’s all-time stolen base leader, and his 118 steals in 1974 is also the league’s single-season record. Only Rickey Henderson has more career steals in Major League history, and given how the stolen base has become a less-popular tactic in recent years, it certainly seems like Henderson and Brock will continue to reign atop the all-time steals list for decades to come.
Beyond the stolen bases, Brock was a big contributor all over the field. Brock hit .293/.343/.410 over 11240 plate appearances and his 3023 career hits rank him 28th on the all-time hit list. Brock was a six-time All-Star and won two World Series rings with the Cardinals, coming up big for St. Louis in the postseason. Over 92 career World Series plate appearances, Brock hit a whopping .391/.424/.655 with four homers (while also going 14-for-16 on stolen base attempts).
A little over 15 and a half of Brock’s MLB seasons were spent with the Cards, and his 2289 games played in a St. Louis uniform is second behind Stan Musial on the franchise’s all-time list. Ironically, Brock’s arrival in St. Louis was met with little fanfare, as he was part of a six-player trade with the Cubs in June 1964 that saw Brock and two other players join the Cardinals, while three other players (most notably accomplished starter Ernie Broglio) headed to Chicago. As Hummel noted, many Cards fans and even players weren’t pleased at the trade, yet it has now gone down as one of the more famously lopsided deals in baseball history, not to mention a major plank of the ever-heated Cardinals/Cubs rivalry.
Brock went into Cooperstown as a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer in 1985, and his post-playing endeavors included some TV commentary work and a special instructor role for the Cardinals. All of us at MLB Trade Rumors sent our condolences to Brock’s family, friends, and many fans.
Lou Brock, turn back the clock!
Rest in peace. You will always be remembered.
Tom Seaver and Lou Brock in the same week. Two of the best on the field and fro what I’ve read, the classiest off. RIP and condolences to the family.
For sure, thinking the same thing.
RIP guys.
Tough year, Al Kaline too…
Another great one recently lost. Only recall Kaline at the end of his career which reminded me of Evans and Yaz together. All three who past were perfect in one respect, they were just about everything good that you want in a young one’s sports idol growing up. Too bad in today’s Internet world, the headlines usually go to others who while being great athletes simply are not good roll models.
We also lost Jimmy Wynn this yeat
Agreed. It seems to get tougher, too. But Lou Brock was one of my all-time favorites, right up there with the guys on the ’55 Dodgers. That dates me horribly, I know, but Brock was that good.
Damn…..
Wow that’s really sad to hear. Loved this guy and the way he played the game. RIP
Class guy
Another page of my childhood torn out.
You were always a class act .
RIP Lou.
RIP Mr.Brock. You we’re a great player
Always one of my favorite players. RIP.
Were
Sad but I bet even today Sweet Lou could steal a base or two if put on as a pinch runner…he was that good
@jessaumodesto that’s incredible you think he could steal a bag on one leg…….
He…was…that…good!
Man, COVID sucks. First Tom Seaver, and now Lou Brock.
RIP to a true legend.
the Hall-of-Famer (Lou Brock) had been dealing with “a number of medical conditions in recent years.”
Tom Seaver had Lewy Body Dementia. Lewy body dementia causes a progressive decline in mental abilities. People with Lewy body dementia may experience visual hallucinations and changes in alertness and attention. Other effects include Parkinson’s disease-like signs and symptoms such as rigid muscles, slow movement and tremors.
Least both men are finally at rest after dealing with horrible health conditions.
Zero chance it was MAGA related COVID
Superstar-It wasn’t COVID -19 related. Get your facts before commenting.
covid does suck but it had nothing to do with either hof’ers death
Not sure what you mean, because every article I read re: Tom Seaver, it mentioned COVID-19.
“Hall of Famer and former New York Mets pitcher Tom Seaver has died from complications of COVID-19 and Lewy body dementia.”
Maybe not entirely/only COVID, but in both instances, it played a part unfortunately.
Wrong. Seaver’s cause of death is listed as complications from Lewy body dementia and COVID-19.
Does it matter? Sadly, Seaver’s “life” apparently ended at least over a year ago when it was learned he was unable to attend the Mets’ 69 reunion.
Respect.
Absolute legend. Ambassador of the game. RIP
Always conducted himself as a classy gentleman. A true HOFer.
A class man and an all around gentleman. I had the pleasure to meet him at a trade show in Dallas in 1985. We discussed Jim Lonborg and the 1967 World Series for 15 minutes! (I am a Red Sox fan)
Having lived in Baton Rouge for close to 45 years, Brock was still a legend at Southern University, and I had the honor to meet him and talk with him on multiple occasions. He was the epitome of class. R.I. P. to a great human being.
Thanks for sharing Sascoach2003. What I read, you experienced and confirmed.
RIP #20
I remember back in 1970 0r 71 Lou Brock was facing Seaver in his last at bat for the season to get 200 hits. Seaver had a big lead and grooved a pitch to Brock and he got his 200th hit. Class all around. both are gone sadly.
I don’t remember that and am surprised due to Seaver’s competitiveness. Good thing he wasn’t facing Nolan Ryan.
Cardinals made two great trades that year for Brock and Cepeda and won the World Series
at the time – historic worst trades for the Giants and Cubs
Cards didn’t get Cepeda until 1966.
Cepeda in May for Ray Sadecki. Roger Maris in December for Charley Smith. Cepeda became an MVP. Maris didn’t hit a bunch but played an excellent right field on back-to-back World Series teams. He was supposed to be keeping RF warm for Bobby Tolan. Maris retired immediately following the ’68 World Series. A couple of days later, Tolan and reliever Wayne Granger were traded to the Reds for Vada Pinson.
I recall Cha Cha as Boston’s first DH. He was initially pressing and got his first hit in the team’s third game. Of course it was a home run.
Speed never slumps! RIP Lou
That’s a great quote who ever came up with it.
Not to Lou that I can recall but in today’s game, an overtrained athlete will pull a muscle in game two and be on the IL for half the season.
Except for Billy Hamilton.
Yes, I was always a Lou Brock fan..even as I am Tiger fan. Cards-Tigers WS 1968. The last WS when there were just an A.L. and an N.L. champion. No divisions. No playoffs. No DH’s.
Brock and Kaline gone this year. And “Tom Terrific” Seaver as well. Count me sad.
Sweet Lou ❤️
another guy before my time, but heck if I dont know his talent at stealing bases. RIP.
Never forget meeting him on Camera Day with his Brock-a-Brella hat. He was so nice to everyone. He and Gibby my favorite Cards.
Two incredible money players.
WOW another legend in less then a week.
RIP Mr. Brock
Steve Garvey edged out Brock for NL MVP after the 118-stolen-base year of 1974. Brock didn’t like it. Interestingly, neither would have been a contender today. According to Baseball-Reference numbers, Brock had a WAR of 3.6 that year and Garvey 4.4. The top five position players were Mike Schmidt (9.7), Joe Morgan (8.6), Johnny Bench (7.9), Jimmy Wynn (7.7), and Darrell Evans 7.2) For pitchers, there was Jon Matlack (8.6) and Phil Niekro (8.0). The Cy Young Award went to Dodgers’ reliever Mike Marshall (3.1) by virtue of his appearing in 106 games and pitching 208 innings out of the bullpen.
Interesting stuff. Thanks for sharing!
Lou Brock faced Tom Seaver the most times during his Career & Tom Seaver faced Lou Brock the most his career.
Tom Seaver passed away on August 29 2020 & Lou Brock passed away today & I can see both of them getting ready to take the field tonight facing each other on the field.
R I P Tom
R I P Lou
I remember meeting him at Camera Day with his Brock-a-Brella hat on. He was so nice. Along with Gibby my favorite players.
My mom wasn’t a baseball fan, but she couldn’t stop talking about the 1968 World Series game she attended with my dad. The Tigers were down 3 games to 1, and behind in game 5, when Willie Horton threw out Lou Brock at home. That turned the tide and the Tigers won the Series. Thanks for the memories, Lou. RIP!
Cards didn’t get Cepeda until 1966.
Lou brock reminded me of another lou..lou rawls ( you’ll never find..)
During an awards show, maybe the Grammys, Lou Rawls had a coughing fit while singing that song. Pro that he was, he resumed singing while missing nary a beat when he stopped coughing.
Smoothest voice. RIP both Lou’s.
The first set of baseball cards I collected as a kid was 1968 Topps. Lou Brock becomes the 12th player from that set to die in 2020. Looking at the checklist, it’s disturbing to realize how many of those guys are no longer with us. Ghoulish as it may sound, I will make a checklist of still-living players tonight while watching the Dodgers-Rockies game.
Gone to Cardboard Heaven in 2020: Glenn Beckert, Lou Brock, Horace Clarke, Al Kaline, Bob Lee, Bobby Locke, Mike McCormick, Don Pavletich, Mike Ryan, Tom Seaver, Tony Taylor, and Jim Wynn.
RIP Lou. Great player, great human.
I echo all the tributes and wishes for Lou Brock to rest in peace. A great player and, by all accounts, a fine person.
Mr. Brock’s career was before my time (I was a boy when the inimitable Rickey Henderson burst on the scene), but perhaps someone a bit older than I can explain how he only had 6 All-Star nods? I would have expected more.
Only six? Power ruled then and there were a number of HOF outfielders who’s careers overlapped Brock’s including Aaron, Mays and Clemente just to name three. Consistency was most important before video games where now today the player tries to emulate. Thus we now have the strikeout, walk, home run game that simply sucks. Teach pitchers to pitch instead of throwing, build stadiums that fairly challenge batters like the original Citi Field and make sure the ball isn’t juiced like last year. Reward those that play a full game like hitting against the shift orwho learn the art of bunting for example.
Heaven just got a little quicker with one of the classiest individuals ever!
RIPBaseBurglar
One of the best. RIP
A class act all the way! I was fortunate to be able to spend some time with him on four occasions and he couldn’t have been nicer or more gracious. He acted like he was blessed to spend time with me instead of the other way around.
Brock was a great hitter. He was a runs producer. He tore it up in World Series competition, over a .600 slugging %.
One of my first baseball cards was Brock’s 1964 card when he was still a Cub. I remember being relieved when I got his ’65 card showing him with St. Louis, which by the way just went up on my screen as a tribute to the great #20. I think I’ll break out those ’64 & ’67 WS highlights later today. Condolences to the Brock family.
Very sad news. Re-checked his career numbers. Stayed productive even at 40. Cubs lost out on a legend. That trade propelled the Cards to that 1964 World Series.
RIP Lou, my condolences to his loved ones.